Dispute over Shareholder Right to Know in a Fujian Trading Company

Case Summary

Plaintiff Zheng is a shareholder of Defendant Fujian [Name] Trading Co., Ltd., holding 20% of the company's shares. Since its establishment, the company has never disclosed its business or financial status to Plaintiff. Despite multiple written requests to inspect and copy corporate documents—including the articles of association, minutes of shareholders' meetings, resolutions of board meetings, financial reports, and accounting books—the company refused on various grounds. Plaintiff now sues, requesting the court to order the company to provide complete financial and operational records for inspection and copying.

Key Dispute

1.Does a plaintiff, as a shareholder of the company, have the right to inspect and copy the company's financial accounting reports, accounting books, and other related materials?

2.Is the company's defense against denying the plaintiff access to records valid?

3.Does the scope of inspection and copying claimed by the plaintiff comply with legal regulations?

Case Strategy

1.Core evidence includes the company's fixed business registration information, the plaintiff's shareholder identity proof, the plaintiff's written request for inspection, the company's refusal response, and communication records between both parties.

2.Prove that as a registered shareholder of the defendant company, the plaintiff is entitled to shareholder inspection rights under the law, including the right to review and copy the articles of association, minutes of shareholders' meetings, financial accounting reports, and other materials, as well as the right to inspect the company's accounting books.

3.With respect to the defendant's defense that the plaintiff's purpose for inspection is improper and may harm the company's interests, provide evidence that the plaintiff seeks to inspect records to understand the company's operating and financial status, protect their legitimate shareholder rights, and has no improper purpose.

4.The scope of access and copying sought by the plaintiff fully complies with the provisions on shareholders' right to information under the Company Law.

Processing Result

The court ruled that Defendant Fujian [Name] Trading Co., Ltd. must, within 10 days of the judgment taking effect, provide Plaintiff Zheng with the company's articles of association, minutes of shareholders' meetings, resolutions of the board of directors, and financial reports for inspection and copying since the company's inception. The defendant shall also make available accounting books and vouchers for inspection. Plaintiff may inspect these documents at the defendant's business premises during regular business hours, for a period not exceeding 10 working days. The defendant shall bear all litigation costs in this case.

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